ID theft from Arlington Hts. senior lands woman five years in prison

A Maywood woman convicted in April of stealing the identity of an Arlington Heights senior suffering from dementia broke down in tears Wednesday after Cook County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Fecarotta sentenced her to five years in prison.

Winona Nelson, 31, was eligible for up to 14 years in prison because of prior convictions for forgery and burglary, but the court declined to impose the longer sentence.

"I don't think an extended term is warranted even though the law allows it," Fecarotta said during Nelson's sentencing hearing in Rolling Meadows' Third Municipal District court.

Nelson, of the 1000 block of 6th Avenue, did not physically harm the 89-year-old victim, a resident of The Moorings, a continuing care retirement community in Arlington Heights where she briefly worked.

But she did profit from the crime, Fecarotta said, referring to more than $6,000 missing from the victim's bank accounts. She also betrayed the trust the woman's family placed in her, the judge said.

"In my opinion, this was planned," he said, adding he believed Nelson sought work at the facility to "find a target."

Nelson, who misrepresented herself as a certified nursing assistant, worked at the facility about a month before she was fired, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Sherie DeDore, a special prosecutor with the office's seniors and persons with disabilities unit.

The offense occurred after that, sometime between January and April of 2009, and was uncovered by a bank employee, DeDore said.

"I would like to state that I am sorry," said a tearful Nelson, who received credit for the 51 days for time served in the Cook County Jail.

As for rehabilitation, Fecarotta said he considered it a slim possibility.

"Prison hasn't helped her before," he said. "I don't think it will help her this time either."